Solved dell inspiron 5720 wont boot

macgig

New Member
Messages
8
diagnostics says all is fine no problems found. I can boot to bios... cant boot to safe mode.

any ideas how to fix? so far im finding nothing on google.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8
What indication do you get when booting? Does it display any error message? Do you get a flashing cursor or just a complete blank screen after the BIOS?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
dell logo then a blank screen. no errors. no cursor. f8 for safe boot never works. f2 works to get to the bios. f12 works to get to boot options. sometimes it get to the screen where windows is trying to load... but it never loads. see a blank screen with this. see attachment

seems to be a common issue. so far im not finding any solutions that work.
 

Attachments

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8
Since the F12, diagnostics works, that says the hard drive is probably OK.

If you press F12 and the get the menu, then select the hard drive, will it boot? If it boots, that suggests the boot menu has changed in the BIOS and you need to reset the Boot menu for the hard drive. If not, it may take a reinstall (F8) to get it going. Unfortunatly, if you have to reinstall any user data or programs will be gone, unless you have done backups of the data.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
You think his Boot Entries have been Changed? If you can install in Safe Mode, try installing Windows 8 Manager from Yamicsoft, they have a 15 day free trial. If you can't install Win 8 Manager, there are other Boot Applications you can use to fix your Boot Choices.

With the "Boot.Ini" gone in Windows 8, it is a little more difficult to fix this kind of issue, but it can be done. Does anyone know where the Info which is usually stored in "Boot.ini" is kept in Windows 8?

Bootman.png

In Windows, the entries are in the same place as other OSes, but with no Boot.Ini file.

BootEntries.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
how do I reset boot menu? Im unable to boot in safe mode. I see two entries in the both seem to say the same thing. how do I install that program if I cant get it to boot to the desktop or tiles?

this is a newer pc that shipped with 8 I believe. we think it was turned off during upgrades, but Im not sure. perhaps not shut down properly
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8
I would avoid any 3rd party boot programs. If they are run, that changes the boot record, if that is changed the Dell PC Restore (recovery partiton on the hard drive) is no longer valid and you will ONLY be able to reinstall with a Windows disc, and then download the needed drivers from the Dell downloads. (This assumes Windows 8 was the original OS. If you upgraded to Win 8 from some other OS then that too invalidates the Dell PC Restore and you can only reinstall with discs).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
while on the blank screen the HD activity light keeps blinking. not sure if that means anything. diagnostics said everything is OK.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8
That may be what happened- The Boot Partition may have been Changed. Let me run this scenario by you. Your system choked, and you had to do a hard shutdown.

When the system came up, it may have redirected to your Utility/Recovery partition. This may be what your system is showing you now, because it has replaced your System partition and now the recovery partition is showing up as "C"

The only way I have been able to fix this and get it to boot normally, is to use Hiren's Boot CD, get into Mini-XP and with the Partition Wizard program which is linked to on the Disk, delete that recovery partition.

Then stick your 8 Install Disk into the drive, boot from that and do an Automatic Repair from there, it should re-locate your C drive and tell it to boot from that.

I hate those recovery partitions, I delete them instantly.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
doing this for a friend. they did not give me an install cd. its under warranty so they will be taking it back I guess.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8
while on the blank screen the HD activity light keeps blinking. not sure if that means anything. diagnostics said everything is OK.


It is doing something - Let it run for an hour and see if it goes through the Auto Repair cycle. But it should be showing you that on the screen.

While you are in this "Black Screen" can you hit ctrl-alt-del and pull up the task manager?

If you can do this, then your Activation has failed and all you need to do it re-activate it. I used a cheating way to do this, but from the task Manager you should be able to pull up SLMGR.VBS and reactivate your system, or, at least you can check the activation by running SLMGR.VBS /dlv from a CMD box- If that is the right command. Yes, it is.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
doing this for a friend. they did not give me an install cd. its under warranty so they will be taking it back I guess.

If the place where they bought it is a decent place they should know how to fix it - Unless of course it is Worst Buy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
they bought it from HHgregg.

control alt del makes the screen go blank. dell logo appears like during a reboot. then nothing. black screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8
Interesting. The machine rebooted when you did that, so you were not in 8 at all. The HD activity was your system trying to find the Boot Sector.

It's looking like your MBR is fouled up, you can repair it using the latest version of Partition Wizard Home - But you have to run it from within Mini-XP on the Hiren's Boot Disk.

Put the disk in the drive, boot from it, and get into Mini-XP - Make sure you are connected to the Network and you have to install the Drivers and Networking components, just a couple of easy clicks on the Mini XP screen. Download the latest PW from Cnet, you can install it to Mini XP then run it - Locate your main System drive and right-click on the DRIVE, that would be the area on the total LEFT of the shown drive. You will see an entry that says "Fix MBR" - Do that.

Then you will have to find an 8 Install disk, I think you can use any 8 Install disk, boot from it, and run the Auto Repair. The elements of it are all common to all versions of 8 so it should fix your boot sequence. Or go to your friend and get his Install Disk, because you absolutely need to have it to do these kinds of repairs, you will not be able to do it from the Recovery Partition, all that will do is wipe your drive and reinstall everything including all of the Wild Tangent Games.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
thanks for the help everyone. passing this mess back to my friend today. they can deal with it. or dell or HHgregg can. lol.

no install disc my hands are tied. OK im a sucker for more punishment... Maybe I'll see if they can get the install disc and I'll try fixing the MBR. I'm curious to see if this works. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8
Best option, if its under warranty to either call Dell for service or if its under some other service take it to that service and let them restore it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
I would avoid any 3rd party boot programs. If they are run, that changes the boot record, if that is changed the Dell PC Restore (recovery partiton on the hard drive) is no longer valid and you will ONLY be able to reinstall with a Windows disc, and then download the needed drivers from the Dell downloads. (This assumes Windows 8 was the original OS. If you upgraded to Win 8 from some other OS then that too invalidates the Dell PC Restore and you can only reinstall with discs).

That's the whole idea - Because Recovery Partitions in general do NOT work about 99.99999% of the time, they just slog up the system. I delete them Instantly, including on OEM Systems I happen to be working on.

Besides, even if you want to keep your recovery fartition, it is safer to use Windows 8 Manager than it is to use the regular Boot Manager in Windows 8. Because it will set the C drive and that drive will STAY the C drive, it will not revert to the recovery partition which should not HAVE a drive letter. That's the problem with recovery partitions, they are left without a drive letter, but Windows 8 will instantly assign C to them if it gets fouled up, Windows 7 had this same problem. Sorry, Yamicsoft Windows Manager is one program that is NOT a 3rd party Program, its a necessity.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
thanks for the help everyone. passing this mess back to my friend today. they can deal with it. or dell or HHgregg can. lol.

no install disc my hands are tied. OK im a sucker for more punishment... Maybe I'll see if they can get the install disc and I'll try fixing the MBR. I'm curious to see if this works. :)

Warranty = you get a new free machine, hands down.

When you get it - 1) DELETE the foodle out of the recovery partition IMMEDIATELY and 2) get an installation disk, The Manufacturer HAS to give you one, it is not optional. If they do not give you one, SCREAM and then start asking how much money they will give you back when it is returned.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
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